Cash register



July 30 1940- l `cz. w. GREEN A2,209,773

' lcAsH REGISTER o rigmal Fi1e d uarch 2v, 1931 4 sheets-sheet 1 His Attorney Y. c'. w. GREEN CASH REGISTER July 30, .1940'.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original 'Filed March 27. 1931 Charles W. Green Inventor By a/VL/ M His Attorney July so, 1940.

CASH REGISTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed March 27, 1931 l Inventor His Attorney July so, 1940.

C. W. GREEN CASH REGISTERv Original Filed March 27, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 477 495 4% 7]/ 'l 4 FIG- 6 50e 509 4% 55/ 552 503 555 ie@ /Z 5/2 `I 'l "z 0/ 499 f/a .x E 5/3 498 l 574 Charles cren Inventor His Attorney Patented July 30, 1940 'UNITED STATES CASH REGISTER Charles W. Green, Dayton, Ohio, assigner to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Original application April 9, 1936, Serial No. 73,449, which is a division of application Serial No. 525,630, March 27, 1931. Divided and this application December 4, 1937, Serial No. 178,014

7 Claims.

This invention relates to cash registers and particularly to the type of machines capable of printing upon a detail strip a record of each transaction entered in the machine, and is a division of the application for United States Letters Patent of Charles W. Green, Serial No. 73,449, which was filed April 9, 1936, and which issued as Patent No. 2,187,200 on January 16, 1940. Application Serial No. 73,449 is a division of an application of Charles W. Green, Serial No. 525,630, filed March 27, 1931, which issuei on' December 18, 1936, into United States Letters Patent No. 2,063,091.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel record strip supporting frame carrying means to shift and feed the record strip independently of said freine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel means to move the record strip into and out of printing position and to feed the same to properly space the printing thereon.

With these and incidental objects in view,the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification.

Of said drawings:

Fig. l is a general view of the printer for eiecting printing upon the record strip.

Fig. 2 is a right-hand side view of the printer showing the "operating mechanisms associated therewith. g

Fig. 3 is a sectional viewtaken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the paper shifting mechanism. associatedV with the record strip printer. I

Fig. 5 is a. perspective vie of a portion of the spool around which 'thel record strip is wound.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the mechanism associated with the storage roll for the record strip.

Fig. 7 is a sectionalview takensubstantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 1, showing the' manual feeding mechanism for the record strip.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8 8 of Fig. l, showing certain parts in adjusted position when the mechanism is conditioned for replenishing or removing the record strip.

General description Described in general terms, this divisional application relates particularly to record strip printing, feeding, and shifting mechanism.

A record strip printing mechanism' is provided in the illustrated machine and is positioned at the top of the cabinet. The various items entered in the machine may be viewed from the record strip through a window provided in the top of the cabinet. This window is so provided that autographic notations may be made upon the record strip adjacent the printed items. This mechanism is of such a nature that the record strip is first shifted from normal position to bring the proper portion thereof over the item type carriers, when a printing impression will then be made thereon. The paper is then shifted in the reverse direction and advances one step to present a new surface to be written and printed upon.

Detailed description-frame and cabinet The record strip mechanism is mounted between two supporting frames I3 and I4 (Fig. 1) suitably secured to the machine base shown in the parent case and in the Green Patent No. 2,063,091. The mechanisms contained in this machine are enclosed by a cabinet I8 (Fig. 2),

.which has hinged thereto a fiat lid I9 so that access may be had to the printing mechanism for removing the printed record strip and also for replenishing the paper supply.

Operating mechanism The power is imparted to various mechanisms of the machine by a main driving shaft 20 (Fig. 2), which is driven either by an electric motor or by a hand-operated crank, as shown in the above-mentioned Green Patent No. 2,063,091. Shaft 20 is given one complete rotation at eac operation of the machine.

Printing mechanism The mechanism for effecting printing upon the record strip is mounted in unitary supports and is so constructed that it may be readily placed in the machine or removed therefrom as a unit. This mechanism is adapted to print from both the item type carriers 311 and from each of the totalizers and special counters mounted in a reel.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1A to 3 and to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the printer is slot. A collar 480 (Fig. 1) is pinned to rod 419 near the left-hand end thereof. The inner end of the collar lies adjacent the groove provided in rod 419 for receiving the slot 418 provided in side frame 416. pinned-to rod 419 and extends inwardly from supporting frame I4. The inner end of the collar 482 is spaced to the right of the groove for frame 415 a distance equal to the thickness of frame 415. It will be noted that the innerv end of each slot 418 is substantially circular fn form, the diameter of which is substantially the same as that of rod 419.

, From the construction of the parts just described, it is clear that when it is desired to arssemble the printer frame in the machine proper, it is only necessary to insert the reduced portion of the slots onto the grooves formed in rod 419 and then slide the printer frame slightly to the right so that the enlarged portions of the slots will embrace rod 419. This movement is stopped when side frame 415 engages the inner end of spacing collar 482.

In order to prevent any lateral movement of the printer frame after it has been placed on rod 416, a manually operable latch 48| (Fig. 1) is provided. This latch is pivoted on the outer side of frame 416 near the top rearward end thereof, and is provided with a hook portion having a thickness substantially equal to the width of one of the peripheral grooves. Thus, it is seen that after the printer frame has been placed on rod 419 and slid to the right in the manner just described, latch 48| is moved downwardly to bring the hooked portion thereof into the peripheral groove adjacent side frame 416, as seen in Fig. 1. locked against lateral movement by the latch 48| and also against any movement away from rod 419 by virtue of the enlarged portions of slots 418 embracing shaft 419 proper. As seen in Fig. 2, a comparatively large notch 483 is provided at the lower forward end of side plate 415. A similar notch 485 (Fig. 8) is provided in the lower side of side frame 416. These notches receive supporting studs 484 and 486 respectively, projecting from supporting frames I4 and I3. In order to prevent any rocking movement of the printer about rod 419, a latch 481 (Fig. 8) is provided. This latch is pivoted to side frame 416 at 488 and is provided with a hook portion 489 at the lower end thereof, which is adapted to embrace stud 486 projecting inwardly from frame I3. Thus, it is seen that the forward end of the printer frame is rigidly held in position.

'I'he mountings for the record strip 490 are shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, wherein it will be seen that the record strip 490 is trained from supply roll 49| over a compression roll 492, thence around platen roll 493 and over a writing table 494, then rearwardly over a sleeve 495 mounted on a rod 496 supported by a pair of links 491, thence over a rod 498 supported by a pair of arms 499, and thence around the receiving or storage roll 500. A paper shifting and feeding mechanism is provided, which is so constructed that it will shift the record strip from normal position to bring the autographic portion thereof to be printed upon to a position directly beneath the platen to receive a printing impression from the type carriers. The record strip is then shifted in the reverse direction and advanced one space so as to present a new surface to be written and printed upon. In Fig. 3 it will be seen that the detail strip is located directly below iid I9 of the cabinet. This lid is provided with a window 50| so that several of the preceding items recorded on the record strip may be viewed. The window 50| is provided with The printer frame is thus positively A spacing collar 482 is also an opening 602 so that autographic notations may be made upon the detail strip adjacent the printed items. The platen 493 (Fig. 3) is mounted on an elongated sleeve embracing shaft 503 which is supported by a pair of arms 504 and 505 (Figs. 1 and 8) journaled respectively on the enlarged portions of studs 53| and 532 provided in the printer side frames 415 and 416, which studs also support the supply roll 49|.

The receiving or storage roll is supported in the printer frame by the mechanism shown in Fig. 6, wherein it will be seen that the reduced portion of a tubular stud 506 is fitted in an aperture provided in side frame 416. Stud 506 is provided with a flange 508 which is fastened to the side frame 416 by rivets 509 or by any other suitable means. A grooved collar 5I0 embraces the inner end of stud 506, and forms a bearing for the arm 499 located toward the left of the printer, which, it will be remembered, is one of the arms which supports rod 498. A plunger 5II is supported at one end within the reduced portion of tubular stud 506. Near its inner end, plunger 5II is provided with an enlarged cylindrical surface 5I3, which is slidably received within the tubular portion of stud 506. A spring SI2 is mounted on the reduced portion of plunger 5II. The inner end of plunger 5I| is provided with an enlarged flange 5I4 and a reduced tapered portion 5I5 which receives one end of core 5I6 about which the detail strip is wound. Mounted in suitable bearings provided in side frame 415 is a long stud 5I1. The inner end of stud SI1 is provided with an enlarged cylindrical shoulder 5I8 which is slotted at 5I9 to receive an inwardly extending projection 520 formed at one end of core 5I6. Adjacent shoulder 5I8, stud 5II is provided with a flange 52|. Adjacent flange 52| is a cylindrical shoulder 522, and, adjacent the latter, stud 5|1 is formed with a key portion 523 which engages in a slot 524 provided in the hub 525 of a ratchet wheel 526. A second ratchet wheel 521 is journaled on hub 525 of ratchet 526 and also on shoulder 522 of stud 5|1. The arm 499, located toward the righthand side of the printer, is journaled on a hub 528 of ratchet 521. Also journaled on hub 528, between arm 499 and ratchet 521, is an arm 529, which has pivoted thereto a feed pawl 553, as shown more clearly in Fig. 7. The inner end of hub 528 (Fig. 6) of ratchet 521 bears against the outer side of flange 52|. Thus, in order to insert a core 5I6 in a printer frame, it is only necessary to engage one end thereof on the reduced portion 5|5 of plunger 5I I and force plunger 5II outwardly against the tension of its spring 5I2 until the other end of core 5I6 clears shoulder 5|8 of stud 5I1. That end may then be fitted on shoulder 5I8 and the projection 520 provided in that end of the core positioned within slot 5I9 provided in shoulder 5I8. It will be noted that the outer side of ratchet wheel 521 is provided with a circular bearing surface 530 which engages the inner side of ratchet 526. Spring 5I2, associated with stud 5 06, urges core 5I6 against flange 52|, which, in turn, engages the inner end of the hub 528 of ratchet wheel 521 and consequently surface 530 of ratchet wheel 521 is spring-urged against ratchet wheel 526. Thus it is seen that, upon movement of ratchet wheel 521, ratchet wheel 526 will also be actuated, due to the friction between their concontacting surfaces. The supporting means for the core carrying the supply roll is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 6, in that a springpressed plunger H' (Figs. 3 and 8) is provided within the tubular stud 53| fixed to frame 416. The support for the other end of the core, however, simply comprises the stud 532 (Fig. 1) which is provided with a flange 533 and a cylindrical shoulder 534 similar to that provided on stud 5|1 for the core 5|6 of the receiving roll. y

The mechanism for shifting and feeding the detail strip will now be described in detail. Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, it will be seen that a slidable member 535 is provided with a. pair of elongated slots 531 and 538 for receiving platen shaft 503 and stud 53|, respectively. A similar slidable member 536 is provided at the other side of the printer and also is formed with a pair of similar slots, one of which also receives the platen shaft 503 and the other the stud 532. A rack 539 is attached to the upper side of each slidable member 535 and 536, the rack meshing with a related pinion 540 pinned to a shaft 54|. Shaft 54| is journaled in the forward ends of arms 504 and 505 which support the platen shaft 503. 'I'his mechanism is provided to compel slidable members 535 and 536 to move in unison. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, slidable member 535 has also attached thereto a rack 542 which is normally out of engagement with a pinion 543 fixed' to platen shaft 503. A short rack 544 is positioned adjacent rack 542 and is provided with a pair of slots 545 for receiving studs 546 carried by slidable member 535. Rack 544 is normally in engagement with pinion 543 attached to shaft 503, as shown in Fig. 4. Racks 542 and 544, by virtue of the pin and slot connection just described, are so arranged that an open tooth space is normally provided between the two racks. A spring 541 is mounted at one end to a stud provided on an upwardly extending projection 548 formed at the vrearward end of rack 544 and at the'other end to a stud provided on a projection 549 extending from the forward end of rack 542, which rack, it will be remembered, is fixed to slidable member 535. 'I'his spring tends to maintain racks 542 and 544 in extended position, as shown in Fig. 4. It will also be seen that a slot 550 is provided near the forward end of each link 491. One of said slots receives a stud 55| provided on slidable member 535, while the other of said slots receives a similar stud 55| provided on slidable member 536. As shown in Fig. 7, the arm 529 has pivoted thereto at 552 the springurged pawl 553 which engages ratchet wheel 521 (Fig. 6). A link 554 is pivoted at its rearward end to arm 529, while its forward end is pivoted to a stud 55| provided in slidable member 536. In Figs. 1, 3, and 8, it will also be seen that pressure roll 492 is fixed to a rod 551 which is supported by a pair of arms 558 pivotally mounted on a rod 559 journaled in the arms 504 and 505 previously described. Fixed to rod 559 adjacent arms 504 and 505 are a pair of depending arms 560. Each arm 560 is provided with a studv 56| to which one end of spring 562 is attached. The other end of each spring 562 is fixed to a related stud 563 provided in arms 504 and 505. Thus it is seen that pressure roll 492 is springurged into engagement with platen 493.

From. the construction of the parts just described, it is seen that when slidable members 535 and 536 (Fig. 4) are moved forwardly in a manner to bel described hereinafter, due to the friction existing between the platen and pressure roll, the short rack 544 will be held stationary until slidable member 535 has been moved .vided between racks 542 and 544.

sufliciently to cause studs 546 to traverse the length of slots 545, when racks 542 and 544 will move as a unit, thereby rotating platen 49,3 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. Link 491 will also be held stationary until both racks move together, due to the pin and slot connection 55| and 550 between the slidable members 535 and 536 and links 491. However, when this lost motion has been taken up, links 491, which, it will be remembered, support rod 496, will also be carried forwardly by the movement of slidable members 535 and 536, with the result that sufficient slack is provided in the detail strip to permit platen 493, operating in conjunction with pressure roll 492, to shift the paper around the platen to bring the proper portion thereof into printing position. 4

When the paper has been shifted to this position, a printing impression will be effected thereon from the type carriers in a manner which will be described in detail hereinafter. It will also be noted that, due to the connecting link 554 (Fig. 7) between slidable member 536 and arm 529 which carries the pawl 553, the latter will be moved forwardly to engage the next adjacent tooth ron ratchet wheel 521 (Fig. 6) when the slidable members 535 and 536 (Figs. 4 and '1) are actuated to shift the paper to printing position. It will alto be seen that when short rack 544 has been moved out of engagement with pinion 543, spring 541 will extend the racks, causing a space equal to substantially the width of one tooth to be pro- Now, upon movement of slidable members 535 and 536 in the reverse direction, pinion 543 will be moved a greater distance in the reverse direction than it was moved when the paper was shifted to printing position. This is due to the fact that upon the return movement of racks 542 and 544, they are extended, as stated before, so that the last tooth on rack 544 will engage the second tooth on pinion 543 from that engaged by the first tooth on rack 542.

When the parts are thus moved to normal position, pawl 553 will rotate ratchet 521 a distance equal to substantially the length of one tooth space of ratchet wheel 521, which movement will be transmitted to core 5|6 of the storage roll through the friction drive provided between ratch 521 and ratchet 526. The friction connection between ratchets 521 and 526 is provided to compensate for the variation in the size of the storage roll, thus insuring a constant feed of the record strip. From the foregoing description, it is clear that, by virtue ofthe construction of racks 542 and 544, a constant amount of paper will be taken from the supply roll at each operation of the machine, but, due to the fact that the receiving roll is constantly increasing in size, a progressively greater amount of paper would tend to be wound thereon. Since this amount of paper becomes greater than that paid oil from the supply roll, the paperwould be severed if no compensating mechanism were provided. For this reason, applicant has provided the friction clutch between ratchets 526 and 521, so that when binding of the paper occurs by the gripping action of friction roll 492 and platen 493 after a suflicient amount has been paid 01T the supply roll, slippage will occur between ratchet 521 and ratchet 526, with the result that only an amount of paper equal to that paid off the supply roll will be wound on the receiving roll. This amount may be regulated so as to provide the desired space between the printed items.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, it will be seen that a cam 565 and its companion cam 565' are attached to a gear 568 loosely mounted on driving shaft 28. Gear 588 meshes with a pinion 138 fixed to a shaft 135 journaled in supporting frames i8 and I4. Shaft 135 has pinned thereto a second pinion 186 (Fig. 2) which meshes with a gear |59 fixed to the main driving shaft 28. Thus it is seen that, upon operation of main driving shaft 28, movement will be imparted to cams 585 and 565 to actuate the mechanisms for shifting and feeding the record strip and also the mechanism for effecting printing thereon. Cams 565 and 565' engage rollers 561 and 568 provided on arms 569 and 518i, respectively, of a segmental gear 51| pivoted on shaft 153. Segmental gear 51| meshes with a segmental gear 512 which is loosely mounted on sleeve 381 provided on shaft 386. The upper portion of segment 512 is provided with a cam slot 514 which receives a stud 515 provided on the lower arm 516 of a bell crank lever 511 pivoted on a trunnion 518 fixed to frame I3. The upper arm 519 of bell crank lever 511 is provided with an open slot 588 which receives a laterally extending stud 58| fixed to the slidable member 535 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. A laterally projecting stud 582 is also provided on segment 512, to which is pivoted the rearward end of a link 583. The forward end of link 583 is pivoted on a stud 584 provided at the upper end of an arm 585 fixed to a shaft 586. Shaft 586 is journaled in the frames I3 and I4, as is clearly shown in Fig. l. Intermediate the ends of arm 585 (best shown in Fig. 3) is an inwardly extending stud 581 which engages in an open slot 588 provided in the lower arm 589 of a bell crank lever 598 (Fig. 1) pivoted on an inwardly extending stud 598' fixed to supporting frame I3. The upper rearwardly extending arm 59| of lever 598 is bifurcated to receive platen Shaft 583. Also pinned to shaft 586 is a second arm 592 (Fig. 2) having a stud 593 in axial alinement with stud 581 on arm 595. Stud 593 operates in an open slot in the lower arm 594 of a lever 595 similar to that provided at the lower end of lever 598. Lever 595 is pivoted on a stud 595 extending inwardly from frame I4 and has an arm 596 which also is provided with a bifurcation 591 for receiving the platen shaft 583. The two arms 598 and 595 are provided to equalize the movement of the platen 493. Thus it is clear that when cams 565 and 565 are operated by gear 566, segment 512 will be rocked in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, with the result that bell crank 511 will also be rocked in a counter-clockwise direction which, through its connection with sliding member 535, will move the same forwardly to shift the record strip 498 to printing position. At this time, stud 515 will enter the dwell 516' of cam slot 514 and the record strip will be held in shifted position. Dwell 514 is provided so that the record strip 498 will be held stationary during a printing operation. As segment 512 is rocked in -a counter-clockwise direction, as aforesaid, shaft 586 will also be rocked in a counterclockwise direction due to the engagement of link 583 with arm 585. This motion is transmitted to the platen shaft by levers 598 and 595 respectively. The parts are so constructed that when the paper has been shifted to printing position and stud 515 has entered the dwell 514 in slot 514, platen 493 will also have been rocked downwardly to a position slightly above the type carriers. At substantially the time that the record strip 498 has been brought to rest in shifted position, further movement of segment 512 will cause platen 493 to be brought into engagement with the type carriers, thereby effecting a printing impression upon the record strip. When segmental gear 512 is rocked in the reverse direction, it is seen that, because of the dwell 514' provided in cam slot 514, the platen will'be moved out of engagement with the type carriers before the record strip 498 will be shifted in the reverse direction. When the cam portion of slot 514 reaches stud 515, the record strip will be shifted in the reverse direction and at the same time the platen will be restored to normal position.

At times it is desirable to feed the record strip manually to wind the record material upon the receiving roll. To this end a manually operable lever 598 is provided. As shown in Figs. 2 and '7, lever 598 projects through a slot (not shown) in lid I9 of the cabinet, so that the record strip may be fed without requiring the lid I8 to be opened. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, lever 588 is pivoted on stud 5|1 in close juxtaposition to side plate 415. The lower end of lever 598 has pivoted thereto a pawl 688 which is urged into engagement with ratchet 526 by a spring 68|. A link 682 is pivoted at its rearward end to a stud 683 provided intermediatethe ends of lever 598. The forward end of link 682 is pivoted at 884 to a depending arm 685 fixed to rod 559. Rod 559, it will be remembered, has also fixed thereto the depending arms 568/ (Fig. 8) which normally urge the pressure roll 492 into engagement with platen 493. Thus it is seen that by grasping lever 598 and urging the same rearwardly, pawl 688 will engage the teeth of ratchet 525 t rotate core |6 (Fig. 6) of the receiving roll, thus causing paper to be wound thereon. At the same time the rearward movement of link 682 moves pressure roll 492 out of engagement with the platen so that the tension between roll 492 and platen 493 is destroyed, and thus the record strip may be paid off from the supply roll without any binding action that normally exists between the pressure roll and the platen. y

In order to facilitate the removal and replenish ing of the record paper in the printer, the following mechanism is provided. Referring to Figs. 3, 4, and 8, it will be seen that the link 491, which is pivotally connected to slldable member 535, is provided with an elongated slot 686 intermediate its ends for receiving a stud 681 fixed to the upper portion of an arm 688 (Fig. 8) pivoted to the printer side frame 416 at 689. The rearward end of arm 688 is provided with a laterally extending stud 6|8 which operates in a slot 6|| provided in an arm 6|2, integral with an arm 499, which, it will be remembered, is one of the arms supporting rod 498 over which the record strip 398 is trained before passing onto the receiving roll. By the connections just described, it is seen that by simply lifting rod 496, arm 688 will be cammed upwardly, causing the stud 6|8 thereon to rock arms 499 and supporting rod 498 rearwardly, thereby bringing all of the' parts just described to the position shown in Fig. 8. When the parts are in this position, it is clear that the paper may be severed and both the supply and receiving rolls readily removed from their mountings.

Ribbon mechanism The ribbon mechanism for the detail record strip printer is mounted on a bracket 6 5 which is fastened to the forward end of the printer side frame 416 by screws, rivets, or any other suitable means, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8. Spaced from side frame 416, bracket 6 I 5 -is formed with a depending portion 6|6 for supporting a number of the parts associated with the ribbon mechanism. The lowerA end of depending portion 6|6 is rigidly secured t'o side frame 416 by suitable `bracing' rods. Spaced from depending portion 6|6 of bracket 6I5 is a plate 6|1 (Fig. 1), which is integrally secured to depending portion 6|6 by tie rods 6|8. Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the inking ribbon 62| extends from roll 622 around tie rod 6| 8, thence around rod 623 provided in platen supporting arms 564 and 565, thence beneath tie rod 6|8 and around roll 624. Rolls 622 and 624 are supported on shafts 6|9 Y and 620 respectively, journaled in depending portion 6|6 and plate 6|1. To facilitate movement of the ink ribbon, tie rods 6|8 and rod 623 may be provided with frictionless rollers.

such a construction that when the ribbonhasbeen completely unwound from one roll, the mecha-,1.-

nism will be automatically shifted so asf; ,rewind the ribbon on that roll and pay it oiifffromlthe other roll. The mechanism for feeding bon will now be described in `detail.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1"and 3, vit. will be seen that a bell crank lever 625 is formed with a bail-like portion 626 which is journaled on'a rod 621 fixed to end plate 416 and depending portion 6|6 of bracket 6|5. One arm of this bail extends upwardly between side frame 416 and portion 6 I 6 of `bracket 6 I 5 while the other arm thereof is positioned a short distance to the right of depending portion 6|6, as shown in Fig. l. It will be seen from Figs. 1 and 3 that the lower arm 626 of bell crank lever 625 has fixed thereto a pin 629 which operates in an elongated slot 630 provided near the forward end of link 63|. The rear end of link 63| is pivoted at 632 to the upper arm 519 of bell crank 511. Integral with bail 626 is an arm 633 extending upwardly and rearwardly from 621. Arm 633 has pivoted to its upper end at 634 a downwardly and rearwardly extending arm 635 carrying a pin 636. Arm 635 is normally urged downwardly by a spring 631. Loosely pivoted on rod 621 is an upwardly and rearwardly extending arm 636 which has pivoted at the upper end thereof at 639 a two-arm pawl 640. The upper arm 69| of pawl 640 engages a ratchet wheel 642 fixed to shaft 6|9 which supports rib- 1 bon roll 622. The lower arm 643 of pawl 640 is adapted to engage ratchet 644 fixed to shaft 626 supporting the ribbon roll 624. A comparatively broad notch 64D' is provided at the top of pawl 646 for receiving pin 636 carried by arm 635. The upper end of arm 638 is provided with a nose portion 645 which is adapted to be engaged at either side thereof by the pin 636 on arm 635. Fixed to ratchet 642 is a serrated disc 646 which is engaged by a nose portion 641 provided on arm 646 of twoarm pawl 649. Also fixed to ratchet 644 is a. serrated disc 650 which receives the other arm 65| of holding pawl 649. Holding pawl 649 is provided with an open slot 652 at its lower end which straddles rod 621 as shown in Fig. 3. A spring 653 urges pawl 649 upwardly so that arms 641 and 65| thereof engage discs 646 and 656 respectively. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 and segmental gear 512 is operated as was described heretofore, it will be seen that bell crank lever 625 will be rocked about its pivot first in a clockwise direction and then in a counter-clockwise direction. When bell crank lever 51,1 is rocked by cam 514 provided in seg- The ink ribbon feeding mechanismis ofxt,

l.pawl64ll also be held stationary, vbut bell crank-lever625 will move on its pivot, with the resultthat`pin 636 vwill be cammed around nose mental gear 512, link 63| obviously will iirst be moved downwardly until the end portion of slot 630 therein engages the pin 629 provided at the lower end of arm 628 of bell crank 625, when the latter will be rocked in aclockwise direction, with the result that arm 633, carrying arm 635 on the upper end thereof, will also be rocked in a clockwise direction. By the engagement of pin 636 with nose 645 of arm 638, the latter will -be moved downwardly, thus causing the hook provided in arm 64| of pawl 646 to actuate ratchet wheel 642 and thereby feed the ribbon an increment. When segmental gear 512 is moved inthe reverse direction, the parts will be restored to normal position. From the construction ofthe parts just described, it will be seen that when the ribbon has been completely paid off from roll 624 and the machine vis subsequently operated, binding of the ribbonwilltak place and ratchet wheel 642 will be held stationary. When this action takes place,

I' of pawl 640 into engagement with ratchet wheel 644 and arm 64| thereof out of engagement with ratchet wheel 642. Now, when the machineA is subsequently operated, roll 624 will be actuated by arm 643 of pawl 640 and ratchet wheel 644 attached thereto, to wind the ribbon around roll 624 and pay it oil' from roll 622 until the ribbon has been completely paid oi from roll 622, when pin 636 will again be cammed around nose 645 and into the position shown in Fig. 3. Thus it is seen that an automatic ribbon reverse is provided which effectively feeds the ribbon at each operation of the machine, thereby presenting a fresh portion to the printing line. each time the platen is brought into engagement with the type carriers.

While the form of mechanism herein shown that it is not intended to conne the invention to the one form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within -the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l1`. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printingmechanism, of a frame supporting a record strip; a rotatable platen mounted in said frame about which said record strip is trained; a pressure roll engaging said platen; a pairof relatively movable racks for rotating said platen to bring a portion of the record strip into printing position, the pressure of the roll on the platen creating a resistance so that'one of said racks will rst be held against movement, permitting the second rack to move lrelatively thereto without imparting any movement to said platen, said racks then being moved as a unit to rotate said platen in one direction; means for extending said racks; and means for actuating said racks inthe reverse direction to rotate said platen in the reverse direction a greater distance than it was rotated in the i'lrst-mentioned'direction, to feed said record strip one step.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a frame supporting a record strip; a platen rockably supported in said frame; a gear iixed to said platen; a rack meshing with said gear; a second subsequently to the teeth on said first mentioned rack, said racks being so connected that normally a space will be left between the teeth thereof; a compression roll engaging said platen; a slidable member supporting said racks and rockable with said platen; means for actuating said slidable member, said roll engaging said platen and creating a drag thereupon so that upon the initial movement of said slidable member, said first mentioned rack will be held stationary until said secv ond mentioned rack has been moved a distance equal to the space between said teeth, when said racks will then move in unison to rotate said platen to shift said record strip to printing position; and means for extending said racks when said first mentioned rack is moved out of engagement with said gear, said'racks remaining in such relative positions when actuated in the reverse direction, thereby rotating said platen a greater distance in the reverse direction than it was rotated to shift the paper to printing position,

thereby advancing said record strip one step.

3. In a machine of the class described having a printing mechanism, the combination of a frame supporting a record strip; a platen mounted in said frame and reversibly rotatable to feed the record strip forwardly from a normal or starting position to a printing position and back past the starting position to line-space the strip after an impression has been made thereon; a gear connected to said platen; means rockable with said platen and operable to rotate the platen to feed the strip forwardly and backwardly and including a member shiftable forwardly and backwardly, a rack fastened to said member for movement therewith, and another rack normally engaging said gear having a lost-motion connection with said member so as to have limited movement relative to said first-mentioned rack; a pressure roll cooperating with said platen to create a drag and retard the movement of said other rack to thereby cause said other rack to move relatively to the first-mentioned rack the extent of said lostmotion connection to provide a shorter eective drive for the platen during the forward movement of the member than during the return movement and means to restore the racks to their original relative position before the member is moved backwardly to cause the racks to move the strip past the starting position on the backward movement of said member.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a frame supporting a record strip; means to feed the record strip variable distances; a pair of relatively movable toothed members for moving the feeding means to feed the record strip independently of the frame to position the strip to be printed upon by the printing mechanism, and then back toward its original position; means cooperating with the feeding means to create a drag and retard one of said toothed members to cause relative movement between toothed members without moving the feeding means, said toothed members thereafter jointly operable to operate the feeding means to move the strip toward printing position; means for moving the toothed members to operate the feeding means in both directions; and resilient means to cause relative movement between the toothed members to restore the toothed members to their original extended positions so that the toothed members, when moved by the moving means, will operate the feeding means to impart a greater movement to the record strip when moved in the reverse direction than when they operate the feeding means to move the strip to printing position.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a frame supporting a record strip; means to feed the record strip; a pair of yieldably connected and relatively movable members for operating the feeding means to move the record strip independently of the frame to position it to be printed upon by the printing mechanism and then in the reverse direction; means cooperating with the feeding means to create a drag and retard movement of onev of said members prior to moving the strip to printing position; means to operate the members in both of said directions; and means to extend said members through said yieldable connection to variably cooperate with the feeding means so that a greater movement will be im- Y parted to the record strip when the members move the feeding means to feed the slip in the reverse direction than when the members operate the feeding means to feed the strip to printing position.

6. In a machine of the class described having printing mechanism, the combination of a frame supporting a record strip; a rotatable platen rockably supported in said frame; a member rockable with said platen and shiftable relative thereto; means to shift said member; a pair of racks carried by said member and operable to rotate the platen to move the record strip from a starting position to a printing position and then return the strip past starting position to space the strip, one of said racks being fast to said member and the other being connected to the platen and having a lost-motion connection with said member, means cooperating with the platen to create a drag and retard rotation of the platen to thereby retard movement of said other rack until the slack between the said other rack and member due to the lost-motion connection is taken up to cause relative movement between said racks when the member is shifted to feed the strip to its printing position, and means to restore said other rack to its original position in relation to the member to restore the slack between the said other rack and member so that upon reverse movement of the member the strip is fed a longer distance in the return feed from printing position.

7. In a machine of the class described having a plurality of type carriers, the combination of a platen rockable to engage said type carriers to make an impression on a record strip and reversibly operable to feed the strip forwardly to bring a portion thereof from a normal or starting position to a position opposite said type carriers and then backwardly to move the portion of the strip past starting position to line-space the strip; a gear connected to said platen; means to operate the platen to feed the strip including a member rockable with said platen and having a forward and backward movement and a pair of relatively movable racks operated by said member, one of said racks normally engaged with the gear and the other rack normally disengaged from the gear, means cooperating with the platen to create a drag and retard movement of said one rack until said relative movement between the racks is completed, said one rack thereafter being operable to rotate the platen forwardly until the other rack engages the gear to jointly rotate the platen forwardly, and means to cause relative movement between two racks to restore the racks to their original relative positions before being moved in the reverse direction to jointly rotate the platen backwardly a greater extent than the platen was rotated forwardly; means for rocking the platen into engagement with the type carriers; and means to shift the member forwardly and backwardly. said shifting means for the member and said platen rocking means being so timed in their operation that the strip is fed forwardly to the position opposite the type carriers as the platen is being rocked toward the type carriers, is retained stationary when the platen engages the type carriers, and is fed backwardly as the platen is being rocked away from the type 5 carriers.

CHARLES W. GREEN. 

